UK charities

No matter where you are in the UK, there is a Wildlife Trust inspiring people about the natural world and saving, protecting and standing up for wildlife and wild places near you. We believe that people are part of nature; everything we value ultimately comes from it and everything we do has an impact on it. We reach out to and empower people of all ages and from all walks of life to make a positive change for wildlife and wild places near them.

Supported by our 800,000 members, together The Wildlife Trusts care for 2,300 diverse and beautiful nature reserves, from remote woods and rivers to inner city nature parks, and most people live within a few miles of one of these special places. We run marine conservation projects around the coast and campaign for protection of our seas.

Our roots are local. Each of the 47 Wildlife Trusts has been formed by groups of active and motivated people getting together to make a difference where they live. We connect local people to nature on their doorsteps, enabling them to take action for nature where they live. Everyone deserves to live in a wildlife-rich world, and everyone should have the opportunity to experience wildlife and wild places in their daily lives. We believe that everyone can make a positive difference to their local environment – whether schools, Councils, farmers, businesses or individuals – and that by working together we can achieve nature’s recovery on land and at sea, and bring people closer to wildlife.

We are the Woodland Trust – the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity.

We’ve over 500,000 members and supporters and more than 1,000 sites, covering over 26,000 hectares, all over the UK.We protect and campaign on behalf of this country’s woods, plant trees, and restore ancient woodland for the benefit of wildlife and people.Our vision is a UK rich in native woods and trees, for people and wildlife.

The trust describes itself as “a charity that works to preserve and protect historic places and spaces—for ever, for everyone”.[2] The trust was founded in 1895 and given statutory powers, starting with the National Trust Act 1907. Historically, the trust tended to focus on English country houses, which still make up the largest part of its holdings, but it also protects historic landscapes such as in the Lake District, historic urban properties, and nature reserves. In Scotland, there is an independent National Trust for Scotland. The Trust has special powers to prevent land being sold off or mortgaged, although this can be over-ridden by Parliament.[citation needed]

The National Trust has been the beneficiary of many large donations and bequests. It owns over 350 heritage properties, which includes many historic houses and gardens, industrial monuments, and social history sites.[1] Most of these are open to the public, usually for a charge. Others are leased, on terms that manage to preserve their character. The Trust is one of the largest landowners in the United Kingdom, owning over 247,000 hectares (610,000 acres; 2,470 km2; 950 sq mi) of land,[1] including many characteristic sites of natural beauty, most of which are open to the public free of charge.[citation needed]

The Trust, one of the largest UK charities financially, is funded by membership subscriptions, entrance fees, legacies, and revenue from gift shops and restaurants within its properties. It has been accused of focusing too much on country estates, and in recent years, the trust has sought to broaden its activities by acquiring historic properties such as former mills, early factories, workhouses, and the childhood homes of Paul McCartney and John Lennon.[3]

Shriners Hospitals for Children has a mission to:

Provide the highest quality care to children with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, burn injuries and other special healthcare needs within a compassionate, family-centered and collaborative care environment.

Provide for the education of physicians and other healthcare professionals.

Conduct research to discover new knowledge that improves the quality of care and quality of life of children and families.

This mission is carried out without regard to race, color, creed, sex or sect, disability, national origin, or ability of a patient or family to pay.

Protecting nature, for people today and future generations.

The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.

Our vision is a world where the diversity of life thrives, and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and its ability to fulfill our needs and enrich our lives.

How do we achieve this mission and vision?

Through the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, including more than 600 scientists, all of whom impact conservation in 72 countries.

With the help of our many partners, from individuals and governments to local nonprofits and corporations.